Incoming Senator Enthusiastic About Chance To Represent Florida

WASHINGTON — The nation's newest and youngest senator-to-be came to the Capitol this week determined "to fight for the people of Florida."

George LeMieux will represent the state on some of the biggest issues of our time. He said he is elated to be here, so excited that he will move his wife and three young sons so they can share his experience of serving as Florida's interim senator for 16 months.

"I've got a lot of listening and learning to do," he acknowledged on Tuesday while scoping out housing and schools in his new city.

The Broward County native has never held elective office. He is unknown to most of his constituents, much less his new colleagues. He's still pondering what to think about health-care legislation, immigration reform and attempts to control global warming.

At 40, he will be the youngest senator, have the lowest seniority and limited clout as a member of the minority party. None of this seems to quell his enthusiasm.

LeMieux, a moderate Republican appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist, will be sworn into office Thursday to complete the term of resigning Republican Sen. Mel Martinez. The incoming senator brings a willingness to work with Democrats.

"I'm a Florida guy, born and raised," he said. "I went to public schools is Coral Springs. I've lived through hurricanes. All of that inevitably shapes me."

LeMieux's brand of politics was honed as a former Republican chairman of Broward County, an area long dominated by Democrats. He also served as a top aide and chief strategist for Crist, who hopes to replace him by winning the Senate seat next year. More recently, LeMieux's legal work brought him to law offices in West Palm Beach and other parts of the state.

"Being in the minority [in the Senate] will be familiar to me, being a Republican from Broward County," he said.

Broward County Democratic Chairman Mitch Ceasar said he and LeMieux avoided the nasty confrontations that characterize much of modern politics.

"I would certainly say we had an amicable, dignified and respectful relationship, and still do," Ceasar said.

Democrats were offended, however, by LeMieux's partisan remarks when he came to Fort Lauderdale after being appointed. The incoming senator told a Republican crowd: "I'm pro-life, I'm pro-gun, and I'm pro-family!"

"I believe he will fall in line among the Republican folks in Washington," Ceasar predicted.

LeMieux said on Tuesday he has an open mind on whether health-care legislation should include a government-run plan to compete with private insurance.

"We need to lower the cost of health care and increase access," he said. "The question is how to do that. The solution should not be worse than the problem."

On attempts to reduce air pollution to prevent climate change, he said he would have to study specific legislation.

"I do think we need to move toward renewable energy," he said, "and I think that has to include nuclear power as part of that."

LeMieux appears likely to steer clear of Martinez' controversial attempts to overhaul immigration law, which would include a path to citizenship for the undocumented. "We need to secure our borders," LeMieux said. "After we do that, we can figure what happens to people already here."

LeMieux said he opposes expansion of the federal government and is worried about its growing debt - conservative tenets that put him in line with his Republican colleagues.

"I have three young sons - 6, 4 and 2," he said, "and I'm worried that this country isn't going to be a place of opportunity if we are saddled with that kind of debt."

William E. Gibson can be reached at Wgibson@SunSentinel.com or 202-824-8256.